How we do Understand Common Cognitive Errors Radiologists Make?

Making a diagnostic error is something that many radiologists will grapple with in their careers. According to a study from Johns Hopkins University School Medicine, nearly 75 percent of all medical malpractice suits against radiologists are pursued on the basis of diagnostic errors.    The study ’s researchers attribute overwhelming work responsibilities, increased expectations, bureaucratic protocol, and cognitive biases to diagnostic errors in the field. Cognitive errors are comprised of “faulty perception, failed heuristics, and biases.” They’re essentially shortcuts radiologists utilize in order to make timely and cost-effective decisions. When radiologists make an error due to cognitive bias, it’s usually a result of poor and quickly judgement, “perceptual distortion” and “illogical interpretation.” They’re errors that radiologists have made repeatedly that ha ve become almost a subconscious pattern. For example, if a radiologist failed to identify lung cancer on a chest radiograph, there is a strong likelihood that he or she will overcall a potential lung nodules on a future radiograph. This is called “Availability Bias.” The researchers urge radiologists to be aware of impulse to overestimate the rate of previously misidentified, neglected, or striking cases. They also discuss the tendency to announce a diagnosis before it’s been fully verified. They call this “Premature Closure, and des cribe its complications in the following example:...
Source: radRounds - Category: Radiology Authors: Source Type: blogs